Public Holiday Sarawak 2026: Hari Gawai + Sarawak Day + Good Friday

Part of our Malaysia public holidays guide, see the federal calendar and all 16 state observances.

Sarawak observes 13 federal gazetted holidays plus four state-specific days: Hari Gawai (1-2 June, 2 consecutive days), Sarawak Day (22 July), Sarawak Governor's (TYT) Birthday (12 September), and Good Friday. Sarawak is also the only state in Malaysia where Deepavali is NOT a public holiday, reflecting its small Hindu population (less than 0.2% of state population). Sarawak does not observe a federal Sultan's Birthday holiday and is governed by a Yang di-Pertua Negeri (TYT) instead of a Sultan.

Public holiday Sarawak 2026

Source: sarawak.gov.my. Islamic dates subject to moon sighting.

Sarawak state-specific holidays

• Hari Gawai (1-2 June 2026): Iban, Bidayuh, and Orang Ulu harvest festival, the most important indigenous celebration in Sarawak. Day 1 (1 June) clashes with the federal Agong's Birthday in 2026.
• Sarawak Day (22 July 2026): commemorates 22 July 1963 when Sarawak gained independence from British rule, prior to forming Malaysia on 16 September 1963. Sarawak is the only state with its own independence anniversary.
• Sarawak Governor's (TYT) Birthday (12 September 2026): honours the reigning Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak. Date is the second Saturday of September.
• Good Friday (3 April 2026): Christian commemoration. Observed in Sarawak and Sabah, reflecting significant Christian populations among Iban, Bidayuh, and other indigenous communities.

Why no Deepavali in Sarawak?

Sarawak's Hindu population is the smallest of any Malaysian state, at less than 0.2%. Indians (predominantly Hindu) make up roughly 0.6% of Sarawak's population compared to 7-8% in Peninsular Malaysia. The state government has not gazetted Deepavali as a public holiday in Sarawak, although banks and federal offices may close. The same applies for Thaipusam, which is not observed in either Sarawak or Sabah.

Hari Gawai: the harvest festival

Hari Gawai (literally "Festival Day") originates from the Iban Dayak harvest celebration "Gawai Dayak," first declared an official Sarawak holiday in 1965. The festival is celebrated by Iban (the largest indigenous group), Bidayuh, and Orang Ulu communities. Traditional customs include the offering of tuak (rice wine), miring ceremonies, and the ngajat dance. Sarawak Cultural Village in Damai puts on a special Gawai showcase, and longhouses across the state host open visits.

Sarawak Day: a unique state independence holiday

Sarawak Day commemorates 22 July 1963, when Sarawak gained self-government from the United Kingdom, four weeks before forming Malaysia on 16 September 1963 (alongside Sabah and Singapore). The holiday was first gazetted in 2017 by the Sarawak state government under the leadership of the late Chief Minister Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud. Sarawak is the only Malaysian state to celebrate its own independence date separately from Malaysia Day (16 September).

Replacement holiday rule in Sarawak

Sarawak follows Section 8 of the Holidays Act 1951 for federal holidays. State holidays do not automatically get replacement days. The 2026 calendar has an unusual clash where Hari Gawai Day 1 (1 June) and Agong's Birthday (1 June) both fall on the same Monday, meaning Sarawak residents do not gain an extra day from the overlap.

Planning around Sarawak holidays

Hari Gawai (1-2 June) is peak tourism period for Sarawak with KL and Singapore flights to Kuching booking up 8-12 weeks in advance. Hotels in Kuching's Waterfront, Bario (highlands), and Mulu (national park) face high demand. Sarawak Day (22 July) sees flag-raising ceremonies at state assembly and DUN buildings. For Christmas, Kuching's Padungan district (Chinatown) hosts community events; Bidayuh and Iban communities in Bau and Lundu host longhouse celebrations open to respectful visitors. East Malaysia state calendars: Sabah, Labuan.

FAQ: Sarawak public holidays 2026

When is Hari Gawai 2026?

1-2 June 2026 (Monday and Tuesday). Hari Gawai is celebrated over 2 consecutive days. In 2026 Day 1 coincides with the federal Agong's Birthday, so Sarawak does not gain an extra day.

Why is Deepavali not a public holiday in Sarawak?

Sarawak's Hindu population is the smallest of any Malaysian state at less than 0.2%. The state government has not gazetted Deepavali as a public holiday, although banks and federal offices may still close.

What is Sarawak Day?

Sarawak Day (22 July) commemorates 22 July 1963 when Sarawak gained self-government from the United Kingdom, four weeks before forming Malaysia on 16 September 1963. Sarawak is the only Malaysian state with its own independence anniversary.

How is Hari Gawai celebrated?

Iban, Bidayuh, and Orang Ulu communities celebrate with tuak (rice wine), miring ceremonies, and the ngajat dance. Longhouses across Sarawak host open visits; Sarawak Cultural Village in Damai runs a special Gawai showcase.

Summary: Sarawak public holidays 2026

Sarawak residents in 2026 observe 12 federal holidays (excluding Deepavali) plus 4 state-specific holidays: Hari Gawai over 2 days (1-2 June), Sarawak Day (22 July), Sarawak Governor's (TYT) Birthday (12 September), and Good Friday (3 April). Sarawak is the only state with both its own independence date and a no-Deepavali calendar. For the full Malaysia public holiday picture, see the federal calendar.